Shoe-form-treeing machine



PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1904 W. L. G. NILBS.

SHOE FORM TREEING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

Inventors 5y /(M C Mflorneys.

PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904. 7

,.W -L. 0. NILES. SHOE FORM TREEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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, UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SHOE-FORM-TREEING M C INE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.7'70,473 dated September '20, 1904. Application filed November 6,1902. Serial No. 130,232. (Nd model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. C. NILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sangus, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Form-Treeing Machines, of which the following is :aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The sale of boots and shoes to retail dealers is quite largely effected through the agency of traveling salesmen, who carry a line of samples of the goods which they offer for sale. The handling and frequent packing and unpacking of these samples is apt to scratch or:

mar them or otherwise impair their appearance. With a view to avolding the damaging of the samples it has been found desirable to place inside of each shoe a form of a shape to fill the interior-of the shoe, and thus to keep the upper smooth and less liable to injury in 1 handling or packing. The use of a form also tends to show the style and character of the shoe off to better advantage and to render the sample more attractive, and such use is otherwise advantageous. After such a form is placed within the shoe it is customary to iron the shoethat is, to rub the outer surface of the-upper after it is on the form with' an iron which is preferably heated somewhat andwhich is constructed of a shape which adapts it to the work.

My invention has forits object to provide a simple and readily-operated machine by the employment of which a form such as above referred to may be quickly placed within a shoe and which will serve also to hold the shoe and the form while the shoe is being ironed and to assist in conveniently presenting the various parts of the shoe to the iron during the ironing operation.

embodying my invention with ashoe-form' thereon. Fig. 2 is a perspective of a form detached. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

The shoe-form heretofore referred to (see Fig. 2) and which I preferably employ consists of a hollow shell 100, having an exterior shape corresponding with theinterior of the shoe in which it is intended to be placed.

The said form is open at both the top and along the sole portion thereof, the latter opening 101 clearly appearingin Fig. 2. From shown at 102 and consists of a preferably metal strip or rod ofthe required length secured to the sides of theshoe-form in any well-known or desired manner. Preferably the reinforcing-plates 103 are provided to afford a bearing for the ends of the said strut and to strengthen the points on the form at which the strut is attached.

My machine is constructed as follows: 1 designates a base-plate which is designed to be placed upon and secured to a bench or other suitable support 2. The upright frame 3 rises from the base-plate, being preferably cast integral therewith, and serves, to support the machine. Projecting forward horizontally from the head 4 of the frame portion is a tubular stud 5. projects into a bearing. or socket 6 in a rearwardly-projecting portion 7 of the form or tree 8, which latter is a part of themachine designed to fill the heel portion, ankle, and top of the shoe while the shoe is on the machine and which in order to distinguish it from the removable form 10, which is left in the shoe and comes off with the shoe, I will term a tree. The tree 8 is held upon the The outer end of the stud 5 stud 5 by means of a securing-screw 9, which is set in a hole in-the part 7 and the inner end ofwhich projects into an annular groove 11 in the exterior of the'said stud 5. 'This ar- IOO.

rangement permits the tree 8 and connected parts, together with the shoe and form thereon, to be rotated on a preferably longitudinal axis in order that all parts of the shoe-upper may be properly presented to the iron in the operation of ironing.

The tree 8 is preferably cast of metal in two parts or halves, which are secured together by countersunk screws 12, Fig. 3, the said screws being countersunk in order that the exterior surface of the tree shall be smooth. In cross-sectional shape the tree is formed to fill the ankle and top of a shoe,'as is illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the latter may be ironed out when it is on the said tree.

At the forward or free end of the tree I provide a bar 13, which is adapted to slide vertically in suitable bearings in the tree. The lower end of this bar is enlarged and shouldered, as shown at 14, and is provided with a split socket and a clamping-screw 16. The socket 15 is adapted to receive and hold the shank 17, which latter terminates in a head or enlargement 18. In this head is preferably pivoted at 19 a toe-holder 20, which is adapted to project into and hold the toe of the form 10. As shown in the drawings, the part 18 is recessed and the part is provided with a lug 21, which projects into the recess, the pin 19 passing through the said lug to pivot the part 20 to the part 18. A spring 22, fast at its upper end to the part 18, bears at its lower end on the part 20 and tends to maintain the part 20 in a vertical position with the shoulder 23 thereof in contact with the part 18. The described arrangement, in connection with the toe-holder 20, permits the latter to bend or yield when the form 10 is being placed on or removed from the machine.

It is to be understood that a toe-holder may be employed, which-is not pivoted to, but is rigidly connected with, the supporting or shank part 18. When shoes, and consequently forms, of a different size are to be placed on the machine, it may be necessary to change the toe-holder to accommodate the difl erent size of shoe, and this may be readily effected by loosening the clamping-screw 16, withdrawing the shank 17 from the split clamp, and applying a toe-holder of different size.

' The-upper portion of the bar 13 is provided with a pin 24, against which the free end of a spring 25 bears. The spring '25 is secured to a stud 26 on the inside of the tree, as shown,

and tends to raise the bar 13. The said spring 25 is of sufficient strength to lift the bar 13 and its connected parts to the highest position of the bar, and when permitted to act it draws the toe-holder into a retracted position with respect to the tree. The form 10 is placed on the machine when the toe-holder is in this position.

It then becomes necessary in order to secure the form 10 firmly on the machine to move the bar 13 downwardly, thusshoving the toe-holder 20 firmly down into the toe of the form, and it is further necessary to lock the bar 13 in this position in order that the shoe which is to be put upon the form 10 may be crowded onto the form, so as to insure that the form shall fully and completely enter the toe part of the shoe and that the form and shoe may be firmly held during the ironing operation.

To effect the downward movement of the bar 13 and to lock the bar in position until it may be desired to release the same, I provide the following mechanism: A bell-crank 30 is pivoted at 31 to a stud on the frame 3. The free end of the horizontally-projecting portion of the bell-crank 30 is connected at 32 with a rod extending to an operating-treadle, (not shown,) which may be located on the floor underneath the bench which supports the machine. The other arm of the bell-crank 30 is pivotally connected with a horizontal rod or connection 33, which passes through a hole 34 in a locking-collar 75,hereinafter described. The hole 34 serves to guide and support the rod 33 and permit the latter to slide horizontally as the bell-crank is operated. The forward end of the rod 33 is provided with projections 35 and 36, between which is a notch or recess 37, which engages a projection or tooth 39 at the rear end of the connecting-rod 40. A hole 41 is provided at the rear of the tree 8 and in the lower portion of the rearwardly-projecting portion 7 of the said tree, the said hole 41 serving to guide and support the rear end of the connecting-rod 40. The said rod is supported at its forward end on a pin 42,projecting from the lower or free end of an arm 43 of the bell-crank 44. The pin 42 projects into a slot 45, formed lengthwise of the connecting-rod 40, the object of the slot 45 being to permit the rod 40 to be moved to a certain extent without moving the bell-crank 44. The forwardly-projecting arm 51 of the said bell-crank is slotted at 52 and receives in the slot a pin 53, projecting from the bar 13. Rearward movement of connecting-rod 40, communicated thereto from the treadle which actuates bell-crank 30, will cause bell-crank 43 to be turned through the engagement of the forward end of slot 45 with pin 42, so as to move the bar 13 and the toe-holder 20 downwardly. If a form 10, Fig. 1, has previously been placed over the tree and toe-holder, such movement of the said bar and toe-holder will clamp the form securely in place. For the purpose of locking the toe-holder in extended position a dog 47 is pivotally mounted in the tree in position to engage with bar 13, the said dog having a lever portion or tail against which is arranged to act a spring 48, secured in position by a stud 49, the said spring acting with a tendency to cause the dog to engage with the said bar. The dog 47 retains the toe-holder in the extended position, into which it is moved by the actuating devices aforesaid until the shoe has been applied over erating bell-crank 43. This portion of the shoe have'been performed. When it is desired to remove the shoe with the form inside the same, the toe-holder is unlocked by disengaging dog 47, and the toe-holder then is permitted to resume its normal retracted position. For convenience in the illustrated embodiment of the invention I have provided for effecting the unlocking by means of the actuating connections for the toe-holder, al-

- though I do not limit myself to the particu-.

lar arrangement of locking device nor in all cases to effectlng the unlocking in the manner herein shown. In the drawlngs a portion 46 of connecting-rod 40 extends forward into proximity to the tail or lever portion of the dog 47. When reverse movement is communicated to connecting-rod 40, the slot 45 in said rod will permit the first portion of such reverse movement to take place without opmovement of the connecting-rod will cause the extension 46 thereof to engage the tail or lever portion of dog 47 and turn the latter so .with the shoe.

as to disengage the same from bar 13, whereupon spring 25 will act to retract the toeholder. In the retracted position of the latter the form is released and may be removed The method previously described of connecting therod'33 and the rod namely, the tooth 39 and recess 37-permits the tree which carries the rod '40 to be swung. on its longitudinal axis, the projection 39 being free to move laterally out of recess 37 The rod 40 cannot beoperated in the precise form of machine shown unless the tree be in the position, shown, Fig. 1., whichis the position which it occupies preferably when the shoe or form is being put onto the tree or removed therefrom. At other times-that is, when the tree is being rotated on its longitudinal axis-it is not necessary to operate the mechanism of the tree or to move the rod 40. However, if desired, the projection 39 may be extended laterally from the end of rod 40 and curved in the arc of, a circle having a center coincident with the axis upon which the tree revolves." W hen so constructed, the projection 39 will remain in engagement with, the recess 37 during a greater or less portion of the revolution of'the'tree, permitting the operation of the rod 40 in various positions of the said tree.

When the tree 8 occupies the position shown, Fig. 1, it is desirable that it should be firmly It may also be'desirable tolock the same in other positions in its revolution. To effect these results, I providea collar 75 on the said stud, which is provided on its forward face with a tooth or projection 60, which engages a corresponding recess 01'' notch in the rear face of the portion 7, which latter is what might be termed the shank of the tree. The sleeve 75 is provided at one side ward end of a connecting-rod 62. (Shownin dotted lines, Fig. 1.) The other end of the said connecting-rod 62 is pivoted at 63, to the. upwardly-projecting arm 64 of a bell-crank 65. The said bell-crank 65 is pivoted at '66 on the frame 3, said pivot 66 being preferably on the opposite side ofthe frame 3 from that upon which the bell-crank 30 islocated. The bell-crank 65 is connected at 67 by a rod with another treadle, which is also located on the floor underneath the bench which supports the machine and in convenient proximity to the foot of the operator. By means of this treadle, which is not shown, the'bell-crank 65 may be swung on its piv0t,-causing the sleeve 75 to be slid rearwardly on the stud 5 and the tooth 60 to be taken out of engagement with the recess on the rear 'face of the shank 7 of the tree.

Since it may be considered desirable to lock the tree in various positions, I deem it preferable to provide a series of recesses on the rear face of the shank portion 7, so that. the tooth 60 may be brought into engagement with any one of these recesses, and this will permit the tree 8 to be securely locked in any position which the operator may desire, the number of positions only being limited by the number'of notches provided. In case it may be desired to havethe tooth 60 normally in a position of engagement or disengagement with the recesses into' which they are adapted to fit springs may be provided acting upon the treadle, thesleeve 75, or any of the intermediate mechanical connections and adapted to draw the same into' the position whichwill produce the desired'result.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that a toe-holder 20 of proper size is in the machine, the operator takes a form adapted to accurately fit the interior of the shoe to be operated upon andwhich may be of the shape shown, Fig. 2. He then inserts the toe piece or holder 20 into the toe of. the

the heel thereof over :the heel portion of the tree 8. He'then pl'aceshis foot upon the treadle, which .actuates the bell-crank .30

and moves the lower arm 'of the bell-crank downwardly, thus moving the rod 33 and the rod .401 rearwardly, swinging, thebellcrank 44' on its pivot 50, and forcing the bar 13 and toe-holder 20 firmly to the toe of the form 10. The dog 47 serves to hold the bar 30 in the lowest position in which it is placed bythe movement of the bell-crank 44. The form 10 is thus firmly secured to the tree. The shoe is then placed on the form by the operator, the shoe being placed over the toe of the form and crowded upwardly, so as to carry the toe of the form well into the toe of the shoe, the heel of the shoe being then forced over the heel of the form and the ankle and top of the shoe placed over the tree 8. i

"1 IO form, moving the form upwardly and forcing The shoe being on the machine, the ironing operation is proceeded with, the operator placing his foot on the treadle which operates the bell-crank 65, thus freeing the tooth of the sleeve 75 from engagement with the shank 7 of the form, thereby permitting the form and the shoe thereon to be rotated by the hand of the operator in order that each part of the upper may be conveniently ironed. When the ironing operation is completed, the tree is brought back to the position shown, Fig. 1, the treadle which operates the bellcrank being in such a position that the tree is locked. The treadle which operates the bell-crank 30 is then operated to move the said bell-crank in the reverse position, thereby moving the rod 40 forward, disengaging the dog 47, and permitting the bar 13 to be moved upwardly by the spring 25. The operator may then remove the shoe, with the form upon which it has been placed and ironed, from the machine.

What I claim is 1. In a shoe-form-treeing machine, the combination of a shoe-form tree comprising an ankle-form and a toe-holder, means for cl amping thereon a removable shoe-form, and means to control the clamping means, substantially as described.

2. A shoe-form-treeing machine comprising, essentially, a shoe-form tree in two parts an ankle-form and a toe-holder, means to hold a removable shoe-form in position thereon, and means to put the shoe-form-holding means into effective operation when desired, substantially as described.

.3. A shoe-form-treeing machine comprising, essentially, a shoe-form tree adapted to engage one end of a shoe-form, a toe-holder mounted on the said tree so as to be movable within the shoe-form in the longitudinal direction of the said shoe-form, and means adapted to control the position of the holder with respect to the tree, substantially as described.

4. A shoe-form-treeing machine comprising, essentially, the shoe-form tree, comprising an ankle-form and toe-holder, means to hold a shoe-form in position on the said tree, locking means adapted to retain the shoeform-holding means in the desired position,

a and mechanism adapted, in its movement in one direction, to put the shoe-form-holding means into operative position, and in its movement in the reverse direction to release the locking means by which the shoe-form-holdingmeans are retained in operative position, substantially as described.

5. A shoe-form-treeing machine comprising essentially ashoe-form tree adapted to engage one end of a shoe-form, a holder mounted on the said tree so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the said shoe-form, a spring adapted to retain the said holder normally in a retracted position with respect to the tree, mechanism adapted to control the position of the holder with respect to the tree and means adapted to lock the holder in the desired extended position of the same and adapted to be released by the said mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a shoe-form-treeing machine, in combination, ashoe-form tree and relatively movable holder both adapted to enter a shoe-form, means to produce relative movement of said parts to spread or extend the same and thereby clamp the shoe-form, and a lock to retain the parts in the spread or extended condition.

7. In ashoe-form-treeing machine comprising the shoe-form tree, means for holding a shoe-form thereon, means for locking the same in the desired position, mechanism for operating the shoe-form-holding means embracing among its elements the rod t0 provided with a slot 45 and having the end projection 46 adapted to release the lockingmeans, substantially as described.

8. A shoe-form-treeing machine comprisin g essentially ashoe-form tree adapted to engage the heel end of a shoe-form, a toe-holder mounted in the said tree so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the said shoeform, and comprising a plurality of members hinged together and normally retained by springs in an extended position, and mechanism by which the toe-holder may be moved into its efiective position or may be released therefrom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER L. O. NILES.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAOLEOD, ALICE H. Monnison. 

